The Hot Sheet—Pacers Fall in Game 5, Face Elimination

Pacers must win Game 6 to stay alive in the Finals

The Hot Sheet with Shavona Slayz

If you missed The Hot Sheet this morning, here’s what happened yesterday in the Finals.

The Pacers let one slip in Game 5, falling to the Thunder 120–109 in OKC. Now down 3–2 in the NBA Finals, this one stings. Indiana trailed by as many as 18 but cut it to two in the fourth quarter. Then came a crushing 10-0 Thunder run that shut the door.

Tyrese Haliburton was held to just 4 points on 0-6 shooting, battling right calf tightness. “He’s not 100%,” Coach Rick Carlisle admitted, “but he fought through it and made things happen in the second half.” Haliburton says he’s not sitting out Game 6.

Pascal Siakam led with 28 points, but Indiana coughed up 23 turnovers—which OKC turned into 32 points. “We didn’t make the necessary plays at the right time,” Siakam said postgame. “They made tough shots, and we couldn’t get anything going late.”

Jalen Williams dropped a game-high 40 points to lead the Thunder to their third win in the series.

Now it’s all on the line.

Game 6 is Thursday at 8:30 PM at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. It’s must-win for the Blue & Gold. Lose, and it’s over. Win, and they’ll take it back to OKC for Game 7.

As Haliburton put it: “Treat it like Game 7. Our backs are against the wall.”

Let’s go, Indy—time to fight.

That’s your Hot Sheet. Catch it live on The Morning Hustle, weekdays at 7:20, 8:20, and 9:20.Have a great day—LuhhhhYuhhh Buhh-Byeeee!